Militia win first preseason game

Updated 12:49 am, Sunday, June 24, 2012

Western Connecticut's Mark Mendelson bursts through a hole during the Militia's preseason game against the New York Red Rebels Saturday at Rogers Park.

Western Connecticut's Mark Mendelson bursts through a hole during the Militia's preseason game against the New York Red Rebels Saturday at Rogers Park.

Photo: Barry Horn

Image 2 of 5

Militia quarterback Kevin Oberg scrambles before completing a six yard touchdown pass during an NEFL preseason game against the New York Red Rebels Saturday at Rogers Park.

Militia quarterback Kevin Oberg scrambles before completing a six yard touchdown pass during an NEFL preseason game against the New York Red Rebels Saturday at Rogers Park.

Photo: Barry Horn

Image 3 of 5

The Militia's Garry Coles returns the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown during the team's NEFL preseason game against the New York Red Rebels Saturday at Rogers Park.

The Militia's Garry Coles returns the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown during the team's NEFL preseason game against the New York Red Rebels Saturday at Rogers Park.

Photo: Barry Horn

Image 4 of 5

Militia coach Lonnie Young.

Militia coach Lonnie Young.

Photo: Barry Horn

Image 5 of 5

The Militia's Ryan Mack (87) grabs a seven yard touchdown pass during Western Connecticut's NEFL preseason game against the New York Red Rebels Saturday at Rogers Park.

The Militia's Ryan Mack (87) grabs a seven yard touchdown pass during Western Connecticut's NEFL preseason game against the New York Red Rebels Saturday at Rogers Park.

Photo: Barry Horn

Militia win first preseason game

1 / 5

Back to Gallery

DANBURY -- The Western Connecticut Militia semipro football team kicked off its season on a high note Saturday, winning its first preseason game 42-26 over the New York Rebels at Rogers Park.

As was to be expected in the first live action of the season, some things worked well for the Militia and some things will need some work.

"We've got some kinks to work out, both offensively and defensively, and with the rotation of units," said Militia head coach Lonnie Young, whose team won the New England Football League's Double-A Southern Division title last year in its inaugural season.

"It's just growing pains. It was an opportunity to get a look at a lot of different individuals and a lot of individual positions. There is some work we have to do and we want to keep making progress and moving forward."

The Militia led 35-14 at halftime and coasted from there. The Rebels -- who hail from New York City and play in the Five Star Football League -- may have seemed overmatched early on, but they made several big plays in the second half to climb back into the game.

"I think we got complacent in the second half," Young said. "We gave up too many yards and too many touchdowns, took too many bad penalties and things like that, both offensively and defensively. It's the little things that we have to take care of."

It took the Militia just 20 seconds to get on the board, as Garry Coles returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Coles, a Sacred Heart University product making his Militia debut, fumbled the kick at the 8-yard line, picked it up and raced up the sideline for the score.

The Militia's momentum was short-lived, however, as the Rebels scored on a 58-yard passing play on their first play from scrimmage.

The Militia passing attack was crisp from the outset, with starting quarterback Kevin Oberg completing 9-of-13 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.

Oberg spread the ball all over the field, hooking up with six different receivers. He hit T.J. Knapp with touchdown passes of 36 and six yards and Ryan Mack -- his favorite target last year -- with a seven-yard scoring strike. Knapp had three catches for 45 yards, Orlando Almonte had two catches for 40 yards and Jason Davis, Lionel Assie and Ruben Kearse all caught passes from Oberg in the first half. Coles caught one pass from backup quarterback Mark Mendelson in the second half.

Complementing the Militia's attack was a steady ground game led by Assie, who rushed eight times for 47 yards, and Mendelson, who ran the ball five times for 37 yards.

Defensive back Raquim Taft made a big defensive play in the second quarter when, with the Militia leading 21-6, he intercepted a pass in the end zone to stop a Rebel drive. The Militia scored on their ensuing drive to take a 28-6 lead.

The Rebels scored to cut the Militia lead to 28-14 with 4:09 remaining in the first half, but Dan Faison the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown to make it 35-14.

On the last play of the first half, Militia defensive back Jayson Millius broke up another Rebel pass in the end zone.

The Rebels cut the deficit to 35-20 early in the fourth quarter and forced the Militia to punt on their next possession. That was when the Militia defense made perhaps its biggest stand of the game.

The Rebels took over near midfield after the Militia punt. Their first play lost two yards. Their second play was an incomplete pass. On the third play, Militia linebacker Brandon Davis sacked Rebels quarterback Londell Wheeler for a 15-yard loss. The Rebels lined up to punt on fourth down but fumbled the snap. Militia linebacker Chansler Davis scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 15 yards into the end zone to make it 42-20 with less than five minutes remaining.

The Militia will host the Brooklyn Bobcats in another preseason game at Rogers Park on June 30 at 1:30 p.m. The Militia will open the regular season at home at Immaculate High School against the Hartford Whalers on July 22 at 1:30 p.m.